51st (Highland) Division

The history of 51st (Highland) Division

The Highland Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as a result of the reforms of the army carried out in 1908 under the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane and was one of 14 Divisions of the peacetime TF.

1914

The units of the Division had just departed for annual summer camp when emergency orders recalled them to the home base. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5 August 1914. A week later the Division was ordered to concentrate at Bedford. On 22 October it was inspected there by King George V. Several units left the Division during the period November 1914 – March 1915, being sent independently to France as reinforcements for the BEF.

1915

On 13 April the Division was warned that it would go on overseas service. It crossed the Channel between 30 April and 3 May and by 6 May had concentrated in the area of Lillers, Busnes and Robecq.

In early May 1915, the Highland Division was hurried to the defence of Ypres. The enemy had attacked on 22 April 1915, using poison gas for the first time. All available reserves were deployed to stop the Germans taking advantage of the initial surprise. The Division remained in action until moved to the area of Estaires on the River Lys, on 19 May.

The Division then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements:

The Battle of Festubert

The Highlanders were still “practically untrained and very green in all field duties” before Festubert, according to First Army commander, Sir Douglas Haig.
The Second Action of Givenchy

Shortly after thus unusscessful action the Division moved south to the area north of the River Somme. They relieved a French Division near Hamel. At this time, the Highland Division now being considered experienced, various New Army units were attached to it for instruction. Indeed, it had also begun to build a reputation as a hard, fighting formation.

1916

The attacks on High Wood*
The Battle of the Ancre* in which the Division captured Beaumont Hamel and took more than 2000 prisoners.* the battles marked * arephases of the Battles of the Somme 1916

Battle patches as worn by units of the 51st (Highland) Division. Extract from war diary of 1/5th Gordon Highlanders, National Archives WO95/2881

1917

The First Battle of the Scarpe~
The Second Battle of the Scarpe~
The capture and defence of Roeux~~the battles marked ~ arephases of the Arras Offensive

The Battle of Pilkem Ridge**
[154th Brigade was in reserve when its two sister Brigades attacked successfully, capturing the front lines and advancing on Langemark. By 5 August, patrols had pushed further forward and across the Steenbeek, a steep sided stream that was vastly swollen by recent torrential rains. The Division was relieved on 7 August]

The Battle of Menin Road Ridge**
[After two less eventful tours in the Ypres area, the Division took part in this attack on 20 September 1917. This was a successful assault in the area of Pheasant Trench, but strong resistance at the fortified Malta, Rose and Delta Houses caused many casualties. The Division was relieved again on 25 September]** the battles marked ** are phases of the Third Battles of the Ypres

The tank attack^
The capture of Bourlon Wood^
[The Division attacked in the area of Cantaing and Flesquieres on 20 November 1917. The first day’s assault was an overwhelming success, new tactics having proved decisive. The reserve units, deployed to continue the assault next day, moved into action at 10am, halting on the Premy Chapel – Graincourt road for the arrival of the tanks, now depleted after the main assault. But the tanks were late in arriving, and the infantry attacked without their assistance, being halted by a storm of machine gun fire. After suffering heavy losses the Division made several more fruitless attacks in the direction of Fontaine-Notre-Dame]

The German counter attacks^
[The Division moved briefly out of the Cambrai battlefield for a rest, but was on its way back again when the enemy unexpected struck on 1 December, recapturing virtually all of the ground gained. It arrived in time to help stem the German attack but had missed the brunt of it.] ^ the battles marked ^ are phases of the Cambrai Operations

1918

The Battle of St Quentin***
The Battle of Bapaume***
[The Division remained in the Cambrai until 21 March 1918, when the enemy launched a huge and overwhelming attack on the fronts of Fifth and Third Armies, the Division being in the latter near Flesquieres. The defensive front around Flesquieres formed a salient and was strongly held by the British. The enemy decided not to attack it frontally, but instead drenched it with gas while attacking on either side. The pressure grew during the day, and from early evening the Division began a fighting withdrawal that took it over the next few days back several miles, through Beaumetz, towards Bapaume. In fighting a number of critical rearguard actions, Divisional losses built up to a total of over 4,900 men]*** the battles marked *** arephases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918

The Battle of Estaires^
The Battle of Hazebrouck^
[On 1 April, the Division entrained for the Bethune area where it was hoped things would be quieter. Unfortunately, the enemy opened a second phase of his offensive on 9 April 1918, and the Highland Division moved into defensive positions behind Richebourg Saint Vaast, where it played a key part in beating off incessant attacks, again at great cost: another 2,500 men. Following the heavy casualties sustained during this action, a composite force consisting of troops from 152nd and 153rd Brigades, RE, 11th (Canadian) Railway Bn, 51st MGC and various other details was formed under Lt-Col. J. Fleming, the Divisional CRE. It held part of the First Army front near Robecq from 12 to 15 April 1918]^ the battles marked ^ arephases of the Battles of the Lys

At the beginning of May, the Division moved to Oppy near Arras, where it stayed until 11 July in a relatively quiet spell.

The Battle of the Tardenois, a part of the Battles of the Marne
[When a third huge enemy attack opened in the area held by the thinly-stretched French Army south west of Reims, Sir Douglas Haig agreed to send a British Corps consisting of 15th (Scottish), 34th, 51st (Highland) and 62nd (2nd West Riding) Divisions. The 51st and 62nd had several days of very heavy fighting, which is now officially known as The Battle of the Tardenois. Fighting took place in the valley of the Ardre, at Marfaux and Mont de Bligny]

The Battle of the Scarpe, a phase of the Second Battles of Arras 1918
[On 26 August 1918, the Highland Division attacked near Arras and had five successive days of fighting in which it captured the strong points at Roeux, Greenland Hill and Plouvain]

The pursuit to the Selle
The Battle of the Selle, a phase of the Final Advance in Picardy

The Division had been relieved and was resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area on 11 November 1918. The demobilisation of the Division began December and the service of the Division came to an end in March when the final cadres left for England. The 6th Black Watch, 4th Seaforth Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders had the honour of selecetion to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920.

The order of battle of the 51st (Highland) Division

152nd (1st Highland) Brigade

named Seaforth & Cameron Bde up to 12 May 1915

1/4th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

left November 1914

1/5th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

1/6th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

1/4th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders

left February 1915

1/6th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

joined from 153rd Bde April 1915, left June 1915

1/8th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

joined from 153rd Bde April 1915, left February 1918

1/6th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

joined June 1916 (later retitled 6/7th Bn)

152nd Machine Gun Company

formed 16 January 1916, moved to 51st Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918

152nd Trench Mortar Battery

formed July 1916

153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade

named Gordon Bde up to 12 May 1915

1/4th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left February 1915

1/5th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left February 1918

1/6th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left December 1914

1/7th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left October 1918

Shetland Coys, the Gordon Highlanders

absorbed late 1916

153rd Machine Gun Company

formed 15 January 1916, moved to 51st Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918

153rd Trench Mortar Battery

formed July 1916

1/6th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

joined 6 October 1918

154th (3rd Highland) Brigade

originally named Argyll & Sutherland Bde, it was replaced by the North Lancashire Bde from West Lancashire Division on 18 April 1915 and retitled on 12 May 1915. The components of the former North Lancashire Bde returned to their old Division on 6 January 1916

1/6th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

left for 152nd Bde April 1915

1/7th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

left December 1914, rejoined March 1916

1/8th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

left for 152nd Bde April 1915

1/9th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

left February 1915

1/4th Bn, the King’s Own

joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916

1/8th Bn, the King’s (Liverpool Regiment)

joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916

2/5th Bn, the Lancashire Fusiliers

joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916

1/4th Bn, the Loyal North Lancashire Rgt

joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916

1/6th Bn, the Cameronians

joined 2 June 1915, left 12 January 1916

1/4th Bn, the Black Watch

joined 6 January 1916, left 29 February 1916

1/5th Bn, the Black Watch

joined 6 January 1916, left 29 February 1916

1/4th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

joined 7 January 1916

1/4th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders

joined 7 January 1916, left 26 February 1916

1/4th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

joined 23 February 1916

1/9th Bn, the Royal Scots

joined 1 March 1916, left 6 February 1918

154th Machine Gun Company

formed 14 January 1916, moved to 51st Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918

154th Trench Mortar Battery

formed July 1916

1/5th Bn, the Durham Light Infantry

joined from 151st Bde 12 February 1918, reduced to cadre and left 15 July 1918

Divisional Troops

1/8th Bn, the Royal Scots

joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn 19 August 1915

232nd Machine Gun Company

joined 20 July 1917, moved to 51st Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918

51st Battalion MGC

formed 19 February 1918

Divisional Mounted Troops

D Sqn, the North Irish Horse

left May 1916

Highland Divisional Cyclist Company

left 9 May 1916

Divisional Artillery

CCLV (I Highland) Brigade, RFA

CCLVI (II Highland) Brigade, RFA

CCLVIII (III Highland) (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA

broken up 21 August 1916

IV Highland (Mountain) Brigade, RFA

left 10 March 1915

CCLX (I Lowland) Brigade, RFA

joined 10 November 1915, broken up 28 January 1917

Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, RGA

a Battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left the Division to join IV Brigade HA on 3 May 1915

51st Divisional Ammunition Column RFA

V.51 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA

joined 18 October 1916, left for IV Corps in February 1918

X.51, Y.51 and Z.51 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA

joined 28 April 1916, in February 1918 Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have six 6-inch weapons each

Royal Engineers

400th (1st Highland) Field Company

404th (2/2nd Highland) Field Company

3rd (Durham) Field Company

joined 19 September 1915, left 30 January 1916

404th (2nd Highland) Field Company

rejoined January 1916

51st Divisional Signals Company

Royal Army Medical Corps

2nd Highland Field Ambulance

3rd Highland Field Ambulance

2/1st Highland Field Ambulance

joined May 1915

51st Sanitary Section

left for XVII Corps 17 April 1917

Other Divisional Troops

51st Divisional Train ASC

retitled from the Highland Divisional Transport and Supply Column, and the units also retitled as 471, 472, 473 and 474 Companies ASC

1st Highland Mobile Veterinary Section AVC

51st Divisional Ambulance Workshop

joined May 1915, absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 6 April 1916

245th Divisional Employment Company

joined 6 June 1917

Divisional histories

“The history of the Fifty-First (Highland) Division 1914-1918” by Major F. W. Bewsher

Divisional memorials

The magnificent memorial to the Highland Division, located within the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel, scene of the Division’s action in November 1916. An original wooden cross memorial to the Division stands nearby within the park, next to “Y” Ravine.

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